Label tacking machine



M. s MALEK LABEL TACKING MACHINE Mafih 16, 1943.

Filed Nov. 10, ,1941 3 Sheqts-Sheet 1 M. S; MALEK LABEL TACKING MACHINE March 16, 1943.

Filed Nov. 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 a 4 3 1 n i v .March1 6, 1943. MSMALEK 2,313,332

LABEL momma mcmim Filed Nov."'io, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 16, 1943 um TED STATES RAT-EN T GFJFiI CE TACKWG MAGHINE Morris rS.-'Malek,--Bronx, N. Y., assignorfof acne-half to McCur-rach '0rganization :Incorporated, .New lYoi'kjN. Y.,.-a conporation -of New York Application November 10, 1941, Serial No. 41858 1 3 Claims.

This invention relates to de'vices for tacking l'bls.

'One object 'of the invention is to *provide a device having improved means for carrying a *labl and =a member to which the label is to be "tacked in a predetermined path so that the label can be secured with great 'rapidity.

h nother -object of the invention is to provide la. 'device comprising a tacking sewing machine :{and -rcarrier "means for a label and member whereby 'the tacking is effected at 'thecorners of :"the label by improved coordination with the feeder element of the tacking machine.

:A'ndther object of the invention is the provision o'f-a device of thenature set forthhaving improved 'means for tacking "labels of different sizes "at the corners thereof, while automatically carrying and guiding 'the "label to different tacking positions.

Another object of the invention is to :provide a *device of the type mentioned having improved means whereby a labelcan betacked to a large article such as a nektie, "without the need for turning the latter, "and while carrying and guiding the "label and "article to *difierent tacking jositionsdetermined bya cam means.

tAn'other iobject of the invention is to 'itlrni'sh 'aita'cking sewing machine and a label guide'ca'rr ier in such improvedcoordination therewith as to permit ithe presserffoo'tto be dispensed with inita'c'kin'g thelabel at its corners as determined by the guide carrier.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

with the ;'aforesaid objects in view, the in vention consists in the novel combinationand arrangement of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodimentsjpointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the "annexed drawings, wherein like "parts are designatedby the same reference characters "throughout-the several views.

In the drawings: I

Figure "1 is a diagrammatic view inside eleva- "ti'o'n showing a device embodying the invention.

"Fig.2 is a diagrammatic view in .front relevation thereof. I

Figs. 3, 4, '5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary plan viewso'f'adevice "accordingtothe invention showing successive positions *to illustrate acycle ofoperation. 'with 'somepartsremoved andshown ind'ot-dash lines in Fig. 4, and other parts removed in Fig. 5, and -st"i1'l other 'parts removed or -in section in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is 'a 'view in 'sideelevation showing my improved attachment 'for a tacking machine.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged view in elevation showing "a locking-control "for an 'articleto which the labelis to be tacked. v

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged"sections on lines 9'9 and I 0-4 0 respectively oi Fig. '8.

.Fig. 511 is an enlarged "section on line ll-Tl of Fig. 4,.showin'g the article and label that is being attached thereto, 'an'dthe'tacking means.

are submitted merely asshowing the preferred exemp'lification of the invention.

lReferring'ln detail to the drawings, 15 denotes .a device embodying the-invention. The Same may includeany conventional tackingsewing machine,

for example, of the 'type manufactured by the "Singer. Manufacturing Co. The same may include .a head I51 carrying a vertically reciprocating .needle T8, and .a re'leasablepress-er foo't T9. The

latter may consist of two fingers-which are swingable upwardly into released position as in Figgl or downwardly into operativelposition as'i'nFigJZ. In any case, the .presse'r foot cooperates with a feeder element 20 carried by the bedportion 22 of the machine, and operated by any suitable mechanism, not shown, in order to permit the goods to Zbetacked. Operation of the machine T6 is initiated "by a foot pedal *23 pivoted at 2'5 andactuating a "rod 25,11; being understood that the machine IB stops automatically when a tack is completed and may automatically sever the thread in such a manner that "the needle "FB 'remains threaded. A pedal 16, arranged like that at 23. mayroperate 'the'piesse'rfoot is, inany 'se'itabl'e' manner, or the presser font may be moved by hand.

Co-operating "with the tacking m achine i6 is; an attachment 21 embodying the invention. The same maycom'prise abase member 28 having an upright "wall fll from "th frontfsi-de of which pro- Ject integral bracket arms or flanges 30, 3|, the

former being located intermediate of the top and bottom planes of the base 23, and the latter being located along the topplane of the base and being parallel to the bracket arm 33. Centrally formed in the top of the wall 29 and flange 3| is a continuous recessed guideway 32 for a slide 33 hereinafter described. Formed in the lower portion of the wall 25 toward the right thereof is a bore 35 extending therethrough for a cylindrical pull .bar or cam actuator 35 hereinafter described.

Extending rearward from the wall 29 are integral wall members including a bottom wall portion 36 in Figs. 3 and. 7.

For causing the follower 53 to move along the cam 55 as stated, the pull rod 35is pivotally connected at 51 to an arm 58 that forms a bell crank lever with the arm 59, said lever being carried by the bearing 38. For example, the arms 58, 59 may be rigidly affixed to the shaft 55 of the bearing 38, the arrangement being shown An adjustable set screw vfixed to the wall 29 may engag'ethe arm 58 to and a sidewall portion 31 which may serve for securing the attachment 2'! to any suitable table or other support, not shown, with' thes idewall 37 also carrying at its reartop portiona bearing 38 for mounting an actuator means for the pushe bar ashereinafter described. Y 1

The slide 33 is retained in the recess 32 by a top plate 39 fastened to the wall 29 as by screws cam lock, that may include a lock pin 55 as shown in Fig. 7 engageable in a helical cam groove cf'a sleeve 4'! that receives the trunnion 54. The lower end of they cam groove 45 is open to receive the look pin 45, and on turning the sleeve or hub il as by a handle 48 integral therewith, a powerlimit forward movement of the pullbar 35. A

7, rod or wire 62 may be connected to the arm Hand to a pedal 63 to facilitate actuation, and any spring means, such as a tension coil spring 53 connected to the arm 59 and detachably engaged with t anupright rod 65 on the plate 42, may serve to v cause frontward projection of the pull bar 35 to return the same'to initial position determined by the set screw 6|.

ful downward pressure is exerted on the cam carrying plate. The lock pin 35may be made removable from the trunnion 44, or a slot, like a keyway 53,,see Fig. 14, may be provided so that the plate 42 may be moved upward past the pin 45 when the handle 48 has been moved to cause the cam to release the lock pin 45.

Carried by the slide bar 33 is a head 55 having a recessed guideway from end to end thereof to receive a second slide bar 5 I, which extends transversely of the first slide bar 33. Retaining the slide bar 5| in its guideway is a top plate52 suitably secured to the head 55 to form a rigid unitary structure therewith. Extending fixedly through the slide bar 5| is a pin providing an upper pin L portion 53 and a lower pin portion 54, the former serving .as a follower for the cam 43, the latter as as actuator, all as hereinafter described; The pin portions 53, '54 extend through alined slots 53a formed in the respective members 52, 55 as shown in Figs. 4 and 14.

The cam 43 is of the positive type being formed by a groove 55. Preferably the latter defines a closed path and is desirably of rectangular shape .as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and. 5. This cam groove faces downward to engage the follower'pin 53 of the slide bar 5|, and of course the cam 43 forms an overhanging structure to permit the desired freedom of movement of the head 5!). Accordingly the slide bar 5| is capable of moving accordingto the closed path of the cam 55, since it traverses its head 55 in one path, while the head 5|] with its slide bar 33 traverses the wa1l29 and the cam 55 in a direction at right angles to the first mentioned path. Hence the articleholding means 56, hereinafter described, and which is affixed to the slide bar 5| follows the closed path of the cam 55, and, as will be apparent hereinafter, the-direction of movement is counterclock w1se.

y to the pin portion 54.

J ournaled in the bracket arm 35 at its forward end portion is a stub shaft 55, which is co- 1 axial with the center of the'cam groove 55 of the cam 53. Fixed on the lower end portion of the shaft 55 are one or more ratchet wheels'fi'i which in this case may have only four equally spaced teeth. A pawl 68 for the-ratchet wheel 31, having an upstanding pawl toothiifla, may be pivotally mounted at 69 on the pull bar 35 and may be pressed into engagement with theratchet wheel by a strip spring 10. The latter may be .afiixedto the pull bar 35 at H and may be set into the side of the pull bar so as not to obstruct retraction intothe guide passage 35. When the pedal 53 is depressed, the bar 35 is pulled backward causing the pawl 68 to. cause a quarter turn of the ratchet wheel 51. To prevent overriding, a square block or plate 12 may be centrally fixed on the 'bottom end portion of the shaft 66, and may be laterally engaged by a strip spring 13 which may be affixed to a side of the wall 29. V

Fixed to theupperend portion of the shaft 66 is a rotary means such as an arm 14 to the j free end of'which is connected a tension coil spring 15, the other end'of whichis connected Hence rotation of the ratchet whe el 51 will cause-rotation of the arm 14, with the spring 15 pulling the -pin 5 4-- and hence the slide bar 5| to cause'the pin 53 to follow around the cam 55. By employing a'yielding means such as the spring '|5,-the non circular contour of the cam 55 is allowed for, and the cam 55 may be considerably greater in length than in width to take care of various rectangular labels. When the ratchet wheel is moved through a quarter turn, on a single reciprocation of the: pull. bar 35, the arm 14 moves a quarter turn and causes the follower pin 53 to move along one side of the cam 55, with the-arm resting in-a position diagonal to the cam groove as shown in Fig. 4, so that the spring 15 tends to pull the follower 53 into the-corner of the cam groove.

To assure a proper and accurate dwellofthe follower pin 53 in the corners ofthe cam groove, the pawl and ratchet structure may be arrangedto form a stop. .Thu's the te'eth of" the ratchetwheel 61 are'arcuately formed as shown inFig'.,l3 to reliably ,engage the pin. 53a of the pawl 68, while the pawl itself'may'be laterally stopped bya discor collar 16 on'the shaft-$5 see Fig. 13.; Rearwardpull on the tar sea-a. be stopped by the front endhook1301. adapted to engage the collar 16' on' retraction of the pawl. .Thus the strip spring-H1 presses the pawl against thecoll'ar 16 as a-,stop.; With thelocal tion of the pawl pin 68a thus-'reliablwdeter mined, .thespring 'I5 isarranged to .lieoff the diagonal relative to the cami55, so thatcthis spring I tends .to iforce the ratchet .wheel :51 snugly against .thepawl pin 68a. In other words, :the

pawl pin acts as .a stop, made effective by the spring I5 whichalso retains the .followerpin53 at .rest in the corners of the (cam groove 55 to assure reliable positioning of-the artic1eholder-58.

The article holder '56 may comprise a plate 11 integral with the slide bar 5|. This plate TI is very thin, for reasons later stated, it-may have at its bottom amarginal reenforcement I-8,-while a broad reen'forcement rib I9 on the top rear portion is in alinement with the slide bar "5|. The plate 1! may slidingly seat on-the bed portion 22 of the tacking machine, with the reenforcement I8 clearing the front and sides there of. Formed in the plate II are a plurality of for the largest size of label that can be tacked with the attachment 56. By making the plate ll very thin, the fabric that is "being tacked is accessible to the feeder element 29, and wrinkiing of the fabric downwardly-into theopenings 88 by pressure of the presser foot I9 is avoided. Since the feed dog 28 moves vertically as well as horizontally, it enters an opening 89 only upon its upward movement. When the needle is raised at the completion of a tacking operation, the feed dog is lowered to clear the opening 88 so that the plate "II can be shifted to tack another corner 'of the label. While the entrance, of the feed dog into openings 88 is desirable, it .is not essential.

For holding down an article or member, such as a necktie N, on the plate 11, a member 8| may be provided having a forked or frame-like pressure portion 82 which not only'bears down on the article but forms a frame or guide for accurately setting the label. This guide may serve even with labels of different sizes. Since it lies beyond the openings 8|], no obstruction in tacking is caused. For operatively mounting the member, the same may have a rear downward extending flange 83 having holes freely pivotally receiving the screws 84 carrying expansion coil springs 85 which press the flange 83 forward. To cause a downward tilting, the flange has at its lower edge a forwardly extending lip 86 bearing on the part I9, and thus the springs 85 cause the fingers 82 to press down on the plate. For lifting the fingers 82, a rod 81 is slidable in a groove 88 of the part 19, this rod carrying upward projecting sloping cams 89 that are received in openings 98 of the member 8|. The rod 81 is reciprocated in its groove by a finger piece or arm 9| pivoted at 92 on the part I9 and having pin and slot engagement at 93 with the cam rod 81. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the rod 81 has been slid leftward with the cams 89 lifting the member 8| to cause an upward tilting of the fingers 82. When the finger piece 5| is released, the pressure of the springs 85 is effective to cause the member 8|, bearing downward on the sloping sides of the cams 89, to

to the reenforcement I9 of the plate :71.

sleeve and thehead of the rod 91..

.under to be held bysaid fingers.

cause the latter :to :move [rightward with a .cor-

responding movement of the finger "piece 8|,

"whereby the fingers '82 areautomatioally moved to clamping position.

For holding down a label L "on the article -01 necktie N, as shown in Fig. 11, a label plate '94 may be used, 'having'corner-cut outs in register with theopenings 89to form a somewhat-cross :shaped part. This label plate 94 is mounted on an arm 95 which is swingably carried by a lock- .ing device 96 for retaining the .label pla'teele- .vated .when swung outof operative position as shown in Fig. v3. The locking :device 98 :may include a stationary headed rod 9 I rigidlyafiixed slidable on the rod BI is a hub or sleeve 98 having a finger piece 89, see Fig. "3, whereby thesleeve 98 may be pushed upward against the pressure of an expansion coil spring I08 acting between the lTothis sleeve, the arm 95 is rigidlyafiixed. To lock the arm 95 in elevated position, the rod 191 is formed with .a pin I9I .engageable in aslotor cam groove .of

the sleeve, which may include a horizontal .cam I02 and a vertical cam I83. In the position of Fig. 8, the device is in normal labelholding position as in Fig. 4. To release and prepare for .a

new label, the sleeve 98 is moved upward, as .by

the pin riding in the horizontal slot or cam I52.

The operation of the machine will now be briefly described. The operator first selects the proper cam plate 43 according to the size of the label, engages it with the pins II and .stud K44, and applies the locking device 41., whereupon the follower 53 enters the cam groove 55. Moving the finger piece 9| leftward, the :fingers 82 are raised and the article or necktie .N slid there- Now, with the openings 89 concealed, a label L is applied .with the member 8| and its fingers 82 acting as a position indicator for the label. The label holder 94 is then swung forward and snaps down on the label under the tension of the spring I08. The tacking machine I6 is now operated to form tacks through the successive openings in a counterclockwise direction, the feeder element and needle, 28 and I8 respectively, engaging through the openings 80 of the very thin plate 'I'I. When a tack is completed, and the sewing machine comes to rest, the pedal 63 is pressed to pull the bar 35 rearward so that the pawl 68 moves the ratchet wheel 6'! a quarter turn, and hence correspondingly moves the arm I4 and the spring I5 carried thereby. Thus a pull is exerted on the pin 53, 54 of the slide 5| causing it to move along one side of the closed cam 55 from one corner to another, coming to rest for the next tacking operation. By reason of the provision of the slides 33 and 5| all required movements are accomplished, and the holder 56 carried by the slide 5| is moved through a complete cycle back to initial position. In making these movements the spring 15 allows for the non circular path of movement and retains the cam follower 53 in the cam corners, and being offset from the true diagonal of the cam 55, tends to exert a clockwise force in all four positions, with the pawl pin 68a serving as a stop, to thus assure that the follower 53 will lie exactly in the corners of the cam 55.

that of the presser foot l9 which must be raised and lowered for each tacking. However, the presser foot may be omitted, because the label plate 94 may itself act as a presser foot notonly becauseit powerfully presses down on the label and necktie, but also because it lies in very close proximity to the feeder element 20 of the sewing machine. This relation will occur in tacking labels of diiferent sizes in which the position of the needle relative to the openings 80 will be varied, as determined by the interchangeable cam 55. g

If desired, the label may be affixed to the article or necktie by a removable clamp, before being applied to the machine. This would avoid the individual positioning of the article and label 7 'on the machine. The clamp may be arranged to line up with the frame-like structure of the holder, for example, with the spaced fingers thereof and the raised rear part, so that the label would thus be held in proper relation to the needle. With such a removable clamp one operator could be engaged in clamping the labels to the neckties, and another operator could cause the labels to be tacked to the neckties by the machine, and remove the clamps when the tacking has been completed.

I claim: 7

1. A device including a support, a first means mounting the support for reciprocatory movement in one path, a second means for mounting the first means for reciprocatory movement in a path transverse to the first path, a relatively stationary cam defining a closed path and cooperating with the first mentioned means for guiding the same, and a rotary means coacting with the support for actuating the same to follow said path with operative action of the first and second means in movably mounting the support, said rotary means being coaxial with the center of said cam, said rotary means having an arm, 1

and a tension spring connecting said arm and said support, and control means for causing intermittent angular motion of the rotary means,

the control means having a stop means for holding the support in a predetermined position against the tension of said spring.

2. A device including a support, a first means mounting the support for reciprocatory movement in one path, a second means for mounting the first means for reciprocatory movement in a pathtransverse to the first path, a relatively stationary cam defining a closed path and cooperating with the first mentioned means for guiding the same, and a' rotary means coacting with the support for actuating the same to follow said path with operative action of the first and second means in movably mounting the support, said rotary means being coaxial with the center of said cam, said rotary means having an arm, and a tension spring connecting said arm and said support,

said rotarymeans being intermittently angularly movable, and a releasable stop means for holding the support in positions corresponding to the corners of said path against the tension of said spring. 7 I e 3. A device for holding together a label and a member that are to be tacked together at spaced points, including a support for said label and member, means for clamping said label and memher to said support, said support having openings at which the label and member are tacked together, a rotary means intermittently angularly movable, a relatively stationary cam defining a closed path, mounting means for said support adapted to follow the path of saidcam, the rotary means being coaxial with the center of said cam and having a rotary arm, a tension coil spring connecting said arm to a portion of the mounting means 'to cause the support to dwell in the corners of its path, and means releasably holding the mounting means in positions corresponding to the corners of said path" and against the tension of said spring.

MORRIS S. MALEK. 

